There was a collective sigh of relief from Philly’s bike commuters when extrawide lanes were painted on Pine and Spruce Streets. Traveling across Center City for work or pleasure is now a lot easier! But what about getting up those hills in West Philly, Manayunk or Mt. Airy? You want to shop at the local co-op, but carrying groceries uphill by bike is more than a workout—it’s exhausting!

Philly Electric Wheels (aptly nicknamed PHEW) opened in Mt. Airy this October to solve that problem for bike lovers. “My wife had a hard time finding the right bike,” says PHEW owner Afshin Kaighobady. “When we’d ride together, I had to wait for her at the top of the hill.” The discovery of electric bikes changed their riding relationship. “Now we can ride together!” he says.

Kaighobady wanted to make this effective form of transportation accessible not only to his wife, but the entire community. PHEW is the first store in the area to sell and service electric bikes exclusively. They carry a wide selection of durable, reliable models, including cruisers, folding bikes and even tricycles. Kaighobady encourages everyone to stop by for a test-ride. “Everybody’s really excited about this,” he says. “They love the way it feels. We won’t be able to stop you from riding electric bicycles!”